The game could also benefit from more dynamic camera angles and a more exciting presentation with color stat overlays, sideline close-ups, and so forth. The developers opted for a realistic, on-court feel by removing play-by-play announcers, but the crowd and music fail to pick up the slack.

Has its moments, but it doesn't offer enough reward for braving the flames.

It has an undeniable, nostalgic charm to it. While nothing here is creative or original, it’s still a mostly fun little adventure.

Those who are already into this stuff, or already have a complete understanding of the rule set will love this game. Those who are trying it out for the first time will be overwhelmed very quickly, and should definitely rent before buying.

This updated, retooled (and downloadable, $30) version of the blazing fast hovercraft battle racer sports eight new tracks, tighter controls, sharper visuals and a new training section where all of you panic-prone Cougars out there can now hone your skills and become the Mavericks of your dreams – minus the killer abs and with a bit more Star Wars than you were probably expecting.

Co-op also makes the bad camera even worse. It's better included than not, but if you want great multiplayer, play the deeper and more fulfilling X-Men Legends or one of the Baldur's Gate games.

There's no sense of continuity since you have to keep stopping and starting. And where are the puzzles or something other to do besides shooting at hard-to-see robots?

With spot-on controls, solid graphics, and a highly accessible structure, Seek and Destroy is perfect for players craving a quick action fix.

The best thing that can be said for OUaK is that there's plenty to do. The RPG and RTS games are distinctly different and each are enjoyable for several days of time you'd otherwise waste watching "Gilligan's Island" reruns or possibly eating.

Introduces far more gameplay problems than solutions.

The greatest crime depicted in the game isn't Syndrome's machinations, but the speed with which the lame design renders dull action out of such cool characters.

Some stuff in Gangland, like building up your crime family, works great. Other parts, like the pace of combat, unhelpful camera angles, and useless vehicles will make you wonder if the developers should have radically rethought all the squad-based stuff.

A fun arcade-style racing game that could have benefited from more features, like the ability to customize cars (you can only choose color and transmission type), compete in tournaments, or embark on a dynamic career mode with cash prizes instead of trophies.

Fracture is an aptly titled game, since many of its components don't fit well together. The single-player campaign seems unfinished, boss battles lack ingenuity, an awkward controlling vehicle sequence seems to have been tossed at random, and the automatic augmentation system offers few meaningful enhancements. The game's high production values aren't enough to make you want to revisit the campaign, leaving Fracture's long-term appeal in the hands of the multiplayer community.

Its poor replayability and lackluster production values ultimately make this game a curiosity rental and nothing more.

Sure, it might be tempting to focus on the game's weaknesses, such as its repetition or limited focus, but in the end it's hard to dislike such a well-made package.

Optional chapters, multiple endings, and being able to replay stages amount to a game that's certainly lengthy, but they multiply an already great repetition factor. If you're willing to sacrifice depth of gameplay for depth of story, you may find that Drakengard is a worthwhile purchase.

Even the graphics have remained relatively the same as the Dreamcast version.

None of these small gripes would kill anyone's enjoyment of the game, but given the lack of multiplayer, and the weak single-player, ModNation Racers: Road Trip is a huge missed opportunity for the casual fan, but the mod-tools are strong enough to appeal to the already converted fan of the franchise.

Many faults in control, AI, and presentation, all of which should be at a higher level considering this is the fourth game in the squad-based series.

It’s unfortunate that it didn’t try harder to give players a truly satisfying quest.

Amusing enough for an Old West-themed shooter, but the so-called new features are either gimmicks, or, as in the case of the auto-aiming, outright annoying. The game is decent for the most part, but doesn't do the great subject matter justice.

Even the bosses are cliché. They're all pattern-based, take three hits to defeat, and are unlikely to pose a challenge for anyone but the younger set who will find some of the platform action too hard.

The course selection is world-class.

If you never leave the garage, or enter a race, this game will satiate you just fine. But if you absolutely need an updated street racing game, try holding out for the latest "Midnight Club (the DUB Edition)."

If you still own an Xbox or PlayStation 2, there's absolutely no reason to purchase this game. Especially since it'll cost you $10 more and offers about 25 percent of the content.

Nothing in it really drives you to play. The RPG elements are watered down, the dungeon and monster designs are boring, and even with all the different weapons and combat options, the fighting is just too simplistic.

The real lesson here is that there's a place for a run-of-the mill shooter. Just keep those aspirations modest. Throw in teammates and base defense, and you can throw your entire project into turmoil.